Winners are grinners...
Eleven patrons at The Weekly Advertiser Horsham Pacing Cup enjoyed the first-time experience of being part-owner of a runner in race nine on the card, the $7000 Traction Ag Pace.
After being drawn from the barrel, the lucky ‘owners’ were escorted to the stabling area for a pre-race meet and greet session with their trainer and adopted equine.
They observed all the goings on of industry participants on a working race day – attending to their horses, gearing up, vet checks, inspection by a steward, watching a replay, collecting numbers, clerk of the course call out, unsaddling, hosing down, packing up for home, and the list goes on.
Then it was off to the designated owners and sponsors’ hospitality area with their guest, for a bite to eat, a convivial drink or two and the chance to compare notes while mentally rating their chances of taking home the $1000 cash up for grabs.
As post time drew nearer the owners dispersed to observe their horse and driver in the parade ring, then heading out to the track for a warm-up. Nerves started to set in as the starter called runners to take their allocated position behind the mobile for the score-up and start.
A green light and it was game on for a little over two laps of the Horsham circuit. At the bell, high hopes were still held by most, at the 500-metre mark maybe half had given it away, and when the field turned for home it looked a race in three.
James Herbertson, aboard the David Drury trained fouryear-old gelding Mac Shadow, quickly put paid to the chances of two as he forged clear and cruised to the line accompanied by cheering from the grandstand, led by ‘lucky owner’ Sacha Rose and punters who had put their hard-earned on ‘Herbie’ and the Mt Gambier pacer.
While Sacha celebrated the victory, the beaten brigade headed back to the owners’ area to drown their sorrows, share bad luck stories, enjoy a drink and dream of what might be – next start.